Crusaders were cruising to victory before serious injury caused game abandonment

RUGBY LEAGUE

North Wales Crusaders Women 36 (T: Jarvis-Evans, Dutton 2, Slack, Manson, Donougher 2. C: Phillips 4)
Oldham Women 4
(match abandoned second half – injury)

Crusaders put in another dynamic performance and were well on their way to an emphatic victory when the day was marred by a serious injury to home player Erica Mullins.

Following the second half incident the game was abandoned and Mullins was taken to hospital where she is currently receiving treatment.

Two weeks after beating Heysham Atoms 28-18 in their first-ever game, Crusaders were vastly improved in this second outing at Chester Rugby Union Club.

The ‘home’ team made a great start when in just the second minute a nice move using the width of the pitch was rounded off by Becky Jarvis-Evans scampering from 40 metres out to score.

From the restart, Crusaders knocked on and from the scrum Oldham went short side and notched an equalising try.

In the seventh minute Cru were back in front when a great defensive set was followed by possession and with some strong carries Jasmin Dutton side-stepped the visiting defence to dot down under the posts.

On 14 minutes great attacking structure kept the ball alive and again Dutton was on hand to collect a late off-load to finish a splendid move to score beneath the sticks.

Try number four soon followed. Crusaders were awarded a penalty as Oldham were caught offside and from the resulting tap it was a mismatch as Codie Slack powered herself over.

Great hands from one end of the field to the other resulted in Ashley Manson grounding.

More superb expansive play resulted in a try for Stevie Donougher.

With three Sioned Phillips conversions, the half-time score was 30-4 to the Crusaders.

Donougher displayed quick feet to land a seventh Crusaders try early in the second half, Phillips adding the extras.

Unfortunately then came the Mullins injury and the game was subsequently called off.

While the welfare of Mullins was uppermost in her thoughts, Crusaders head coach Becki Davies was hugely impressed with the play she saw from her charges.

She said: “They were a completely different team in comparison to the team that played two weeks ago, in both their mental and physical game play. I’m very proud of them all.”